Complaints validated after 2012 Walmart Thanksgiving strikes

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Labor Relations Board has found several labor complaints against Walmart to have merit in the wake of Thanksgiving Day strikes in 2012.

The NLRB's general counsel investigated five complaints filed against the retail giant alleging managers at stores in 13 states threatened employees who were planning to stay away from work when the company announced it would remain open for business on Thanksgiving last year. Three of the complaints were validated.

The NLRB found Walmart managers in two television news broadcasts and in meetings with employees made threats of retaliation against workers who planned to participate in the strike.

Two allegations made against the retailer -- one in Texas and Illinois and another in California and Washington -- were found to be without merit. NLRB counsel said there was no evidence the company punished striking workers by changing their work hours or unfairly enforcing company policy for workers who stayed home for the holiday.

With the board's meritorious finding, the two sides will engage in bargaining to reach a settlement. If no settlement is reached, federal mediators could impose one against the company.

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